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Do what is right for our veterans

Published: Saturday, July 6, 2013 at 10:52 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, July 6, 2013 at 10:52 p.m.

Each year as Congress assembles, new legislative bills are introduced as previously introduced bills die. Some bills relate to Vietnam veterans who did not have boots on the ground. Many served at sea and in the air who need VA benefits including compensation for their survival.

It is well known Agent Orange dioxin, a herbicide used in Vietnam from 1962 to 1973, is the cause of many life-threatening diseases for those who served.

Congress and the VA are well aware of this fact. Even though this is well known in Congress, they continue to fail our veterans who fought the battle. Without proper funding, the VA can not help many suffering veterans of the Vietnam war. The backlog of submitted claims is overwhelming. It can take a year or more for the VA to review a claim.

As is often the case, the veteran is asked to provide more evidence in support of a claim. Many veterans do not know how or where to find additional supporting evidence. Veteran service officers are trained by the VA to help, but even they are overwhelmed with inquiries. They can only provide so much time, placing the responsibility upon the veteran to locate evidence. There are resources for veterans if those resources were published. Many veterans just give up, not knowing how and where to find required evidence relative to their branch of service. The VA should provide these resources to help the veteran.

Legislative bills if passed would cut red tape. The backlog can be significantly reduced for those who did not have boots on the ground, just the same are sick. It is about the dollars and politics, not about the veteran. What price is a veteran worth? The American people must step forward urging the Congress to do what is right for our nation’s veterans.

<p>Each year as Congress assembles, new legislative bills are introduced as previously introduced bills die. Some bills relate to Vietnam veterans who did not have boots on the ground. Many served at sea and in the air who need VA benefits including compensation for their survival. </p><p>It is well known Agent Orange dioxin, a herbicide used in Vietnam from 1962 to 1973, is the cause of many life-threatening diseases for those who served. </p><p>Congress and the VA are well aware of this fact. Even though this is well known in Congress, they continue to fail our veterans who fought the battle. Without proper funding, the VA can not help many suffering veterans of the Vietnam war. The backlog of submitted claims is overwhelming. It can take a year or more for the VA to review a claim. </p><p>As is often the case, the veteran is asked to provide more evidence in support of a claim. Many veterans do not know how or where to find additional supporting evidence. Veteran service officers are trained by the VA to help, but even they are overwhelmed with inquiries. They can only provide so much time, placing the responsibility upon the veteran to locate evidence. There are resources for veterans if those resources were published. Many veterans just give up, not knowing how and where to find required evidence relative to their branch of service. The VA should provide these resources to help the veteran. </p><p>Legislative bills if passed would cut red tape. The backlog can be significantly reduced for those who did not have boots on the ground, just the same are sick. It is about the dollars and politics, not about the veteran. What price is a veteran worth? The American people must step forward urging the Congress to do what is right for our nation's veterans. </p><p>John J. Bury</p><p>Media, Pa.</p>